Jonathan Sach’s Clash of Civilizations

In Clash of Civilizations, Jonathan Sach explores the human race and sheds light on the violent streak that seems to have taken root in the day to day preferences and perceptions of the modern day man (Sacks, 2002). Jonathan Sach explores the human race in a manner that reminds one of the times when the human race was coming to terms with itself. Each group of humans evolved into a society at its own individual pace.

It is apparent that in the eyes of Jonathan Sach, globalization has played a significant role in bringing the civilizations of the world to a point where a large part of the people in the world have chosen to spend their lives with their daggers drawn and their eyes on the lookout for a victim whose blood they can spill. “The greatest single antidote to violence is conversation”. (Sacks, 2002, p. 2)

Jonathan Sach begins with reference to the bombings of the World Trade Center and presents the reader with a question of sorts in which he implies that it is perhaps not completely impossible for the modern day man to live in peace and harmony. Jonathan Sach appears to be deeply inspired by the degree of love and dedication that the people of the world came forth with when innocent lives were lost and the reader can see that the Jonathan Sach has seen a way out from the continuing bloodbath that has become an unspoken plague for humanity around the world.

“I found myself wondering at the contrast between the religious fervor of the hijackers and the no less intense longing for peace amongst the religious leaders who were there” (Sacks, 2002, p. 1). Jonathan Sach appears to be so highly motivated and convinced of his perception that further on in the book, he has chosen to argue against the widely accepted idea of universal truth that was given by Plato centuries ago.

In doing so, Jonathan Sach calls for a global conversation in order to transform all the hostility that is currently present in the world into a form where it can be converted in to dialogue so that it can be brought to a conclusion without any damage to anybody’s life or property. It is Jonathan Sach’s perception that unless tolerance is allowed to take root and acceptance is supplemented with respect, it will be extremely difficult for the members of the human race to come to a point where they can respect and accept the differences that exist between them.

In Jonathan Sach’s perspective, the clash of civilizations is not a one-time occurrence, but is a cyclic series of events in which each battle is followed by another one. Jonathan Sach advocates for peace across the world by asking the people of the world to bring down this cycle the same way it reached its current degree of dominance. It has to be systematically diminished so that it can no longer function and cannot reenergize itself through biased hatred, prejudice, intolerance and disrespect after every battle.

In Clash of Civilizations, Jonathan Sach believes that difference cannot be prevented since it is as real as man he and it is for the same reason that it should be celebrated and accepted for the color and fervor that it brings. Jonathan Sach specifically points out that even though some of the major religions of the world believe and preach that no other religion is correct, it is highly essential to teach tolerance and to remember that there is but one world to share and one life that every person has to live in this world.

However, it is important to note that Jonathan Sach has not in any way degraded or disrespected any religion or culture in Clash of Civilizations but has chosen to help the reader in realizing a platform of peace and tolerance where the people of the world can come together and live in peace and harmony regardless of their differences. In Clash of Civilizations, Jonathan Sach has attempted to elaborate upon the fact that the religions of the world may be different, but there is none that does not preach peace.

In Jonathan Sach’s eyes, there is no man in the world that should not be given a chance to speak and the right to live a peaceful and respected life. “Religion can be a source of discord. It can also be a form of conflict resolution” (Sacks, 2002, p. 4). Jonathan Sach even goes to the extent where he agrees that being a Jew, he may consider his religion to be one that is correct in his eyes, yet not one that can be regarded as the universally correct religion since there is no sure way of ascertaining the credibility of the universal authenticity of any religion.

It is Jonathan Sach’s opinion that religions do not limit themselves to the confines of uniformity but extend much farther and preach the acceptance and celebration of diversity. When going through Jonathan Sach’s Clash of Civilizations, one cannot help but feel that Jonathan Sach is debating for a highly valid point. One that may very well be what the modern day human race needs in order to bring the world back to a state where acts of violence such as that of the 11th of September are not witnessed. References Sacks, J. (2002). The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations. Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.